The Princess and the Pea

Chapter 6. Something in the works

It was something of a dream. A mere collection of random and tedious images thrown together with a force that distracted her train of thought and brought her into a mindless state of contentment; and she would have given up everything to be presented with the chance to stay in that library forever.

The haunting smell of beeswax that came from the desk she sat in front of and the moldy clouds of dust that rose to meet her every time she opened a new piece of literature gave her an unexpected feeling of comfort. Sure, she had known for quite some time that books were a form of sinful pleasure for her but it was truly profound to realize just what a major affect this room had on her.

Suddenly feeling the need to make sure she hadn't in fact been dreaming, or still on the journey to the palace and fantasizing about it, Temperance's eyes darted around the room.

The soft glow from the lone candle gave enough light to read by, if one was within a few feet, but otherwise it gave a hollowed eerie effect when the golden glow dissipated, taking the ever expansive bookcases along with it until everything slowly dissolved into pitch blackness. Stillness didn't bother her but the sudden feeling that the very walls were humming gave her chills. Catching her in a momentary lapse of her own self awareness that only ended when the antique grandfather clock in the corner suddenly came to life.

The deep drolling clangs of the inner workings and mechanisms startled her back into the present. Silently cursing her own foolishness for wasting precious time she could have used to study by day-dreaming she counted the number of chimes.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Where had the time gone? How long had she been sitting there staring off into space? Nothing seemed to answer her questions and her thoughts became even more muddled when she looked out into what should have been the images reflecting off of the windows. Instead she was met with a faint light that was just starting to bloom over the horizon line. It had completely escaped her mind that mornings rose early this time of year. Cursing herself again for being so unaware that her body was as fatigued it was Brennan made a mental note to warn Angela that she would likely be an ungrateful companion for the rest of the day; depending on whether or not her sedated mood held out.

He watched her scramble with delicate efficiency to replace the books that she had collected over the span of her several hours of study. She looked tired but a sudden realization came to him that she would carry on instead of acting like all of the other spoiled heiresses, climbing into bed and sleeping the day away; putting off their diplomatic duties for laziness.

No, he decided, she wouldn't be one of those girls. She was different from them, he knew that the second he had spied her and her companion from his balcony when they had first arrived.

A flash of humiliation streaked across his thoughts. How could he have let one fair maiden get to him? How could she have a power over him that pulled him along by a string until he followed her like a stalker into the dark at all hours of the night? What had he done to deserve this punishment? The feelings inside himself that he could recognize but didn't want his mind to register.

She never noticed his glaring eyes as she finished cleaning up after herself. Gathering up the candle stick and heading out the door she took with her the only evidence that a visitor had been there in the first place. As the door closed behind her the bang echoed to him and all but re-enforced his solitude in the grand library.

He was still steaming silently when his focus came back to its original potency and he found himself clear across the room letting his fingers caress the binding of the last book she had so meticulously put back in place. Jolting back from the item as if it were poisoned he heard murmurs from just beyond the threshold of the door. Soft and lovely, a woman it was obvious with a lower baritone clash that could only be identified as a man.

Feeling even more humiliated than he had just minutes before, Seeley Booth, Crown Prince to the kingdom stormed quietly threw a passageway he knew of in the walls of the library and made his way back to his secluded chambers. A time to cool off would do him some good he decided. That was until he found an opportune moment to pay his night owl a personal visit.

Yes, he thought to himself, She's not really unlike the majority of the rest of the contestants. She wants my title and my money. I just have to prove that.

Feeling a bit better with himself he started to ascend the set of secret stairs and stopped. A beautiful sunrise was in progress. It had caught his attention. The fiery reds melted into a glowing yellow and tints of a royal purple that set the bar for the most glorious thing he had ever seen.

Memories long forgotten flooded back to him as he remembered the long nights after the incident that he couldn't sleep in the dark and would wait until the gray light of morning flooded into his open windows to let himself surrender to sleep. As he stared into the crimson dawn a flash of flaming hair came to him.

Soured was his mood as he scowled and stormed, more noisily, up the steps once more.

The young lad named Lance had been waiting outside the library and had nearly killed Brennan with fright as she had quietly exited the great oak doors.

Still recovering from shock she watched him bow, hand delicately pressed to his chest. "Lady Brennan, I am here to escort you to your sleeping quarters."

Watching him carefully Brennan felt the need to ask; though she felt no threat from him because he kept up his dramatic bowing performance. "How long have you been waiting for me to finish my research?" She let the question slip without realizing it and only confirmed to herself that she had spoken aloud when he answered.

"Since the end of the ball m'lady." The young servant said in a politely detached tone.

Temperance was confused. "I know the way back to my suite, sir Lance. I have no need for an escort, especially at such a late hour."

"Early, madam." The boy corrected. "However I have been instructed to inform you that the quarters you were shown when you first arrived are not actually where you will be staying. They are merely for your servant."

Frazzled, Brennan's temper flared. "Angela is my companion, not a maid." After a moment to let her anger subside her curiosity won her over. "What do you mean by it isn't where I will be staying?"

Lance said nothing but in return to her question he gave her a knowing look and gestured for her to follow. "If you'll please, miss, I will show you the way."

Still on guard, mind reeling in confusion, she let herself be taken deep withing the confines of the castle to a large set of doors guarded by knights complete with battle armor. They eyed her coolly as Lance whispered to one of them and after receiving a silent nod the doors were quietly pulled open; though just enough from the two of them to pass through.

Feeling herself ushered into the darkness was one thing Brennan found unsettling about the entire situation but once inside she feared she was dreaming.

At first they looked like columns in the dark. Thick, with equidistant sections that went horizontally across. But as they came closer she reached out to touch one and after grabbing at something poking her fingertips she pulled back a down feather.

"Mattresses?" She asked questionably to no one in particular, her eyes inspecting the tiny piece of fluff.

"Yes." Lance the servant answered. "This is where his highness wishes for the ladies of the court to stay while they are in the capital."

Well if the king thinks so... Temperance thought to herself, sarcasm dripping in her own mind. The thought of rebellion came to mind but she squashed the idea as soon as it was born. What if the king refused her request at her own quarters and dismissed her from the castle? Her entire trip would have been in vain and her knowledge would still be limited to what she could find in the books of Lady Payton's library. She had already learned as much as she could from that place, so she kept her complaints to herself.

Lance finally stopped just to the right of one pillar of mattresses and bowed once more. He said nothing, only keeping his head down and eyes closed as Brennan inspected the seemingly impossible bed. Somehow it didn't surprise her that it reached nearly to the ceiling.

It was quite a while that she was within her own thoughts but when she at last turned again to her guide he was watching her with level eyes. Slightly embarrassed at what she was about to ask Temperance felt her face flush and cursed herself, internally hoping that with only random lamps in the great hall the young lad would find it too dark to notice her change in color.

It took her a moment to relax before she was able to ask her question, but the furious heat upon her cheeks remained. "How am I to reach the top?" She barely whispered. She knew he had heard it however because when her eyes took the chance to glance at him from their spot on the floor he had a wide smile on his face. Nothing more.

TBC